Patent · US Expired

Flexible digital image processing via an image processing chain with modular image processors

US6157394A · kind A · utility

182Cited by
16References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 29, 1996
Grant dateDec 5, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 29, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N1/40
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for altering a linked series of image processors capable of manipulation digital image data includes providing a digital image capture device with an image processing chain, and modifying the image processing chain to form a new image processing chain. The modifying further includes deleting an image processor from the image processing chain. Alternatively, the modifying further includes altering the image processing chain with at least one externally provided image processor, inserting an image processor into the image processing chain, or replacing an image processor in the image processing chain. In a system aspect, the system includes a digital image capture device, the digital image capture device capable of processing digital image data through two or more image processors. The system further includes a central processing unit within the digital image capture device and capable of linking the two or more image processors to form an image processing chain. The central processing unit further facilitates modification of the image processing chain to form a new image processing chain.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.